What is Islam?


Rise and Spread of Islam
While we have studied Islam as a religion, we know want to know how this religion spread from its origins in the Middle East across Africa and parts of southern Europe (Spain), to other parts of the world. Here are some background notes on the origins of Islam: Islam

After Muhammad's death, Islam will continue to grow across the Middle East: The Arab Empire

An interactive map showing how Islam spread across the Middle East and the Mediterranean after the death of Muhammad.The Expansion of Islam

Choose one question from the following:
1. What are the central beliefs of Islam and why did differences in beliefs develop within the Muslim community?
2. What factors allowed Islam to spread widely, from western Asia to Spain?
3. What advances were made during Islam's 'Golden Age' and how have these advances had a lasting impact?

How did Muslim Minds change the world?

In groups you will produce 10 minute presentations on the contributions Medieval Muslim Scholars made in different areas of knowledge. You need to produce the following
* A 10 min group presentation
* A powerpoint as a visual aid
* A bibliography
* A handout of the most significant developments, people and events you find in your area. This must be NO MORE than 2 sides of A4 paper.

You need to focus your analysis on the following questions
- What were the key ideas or accepted beliefs in that area of knowledge and were there any particularly significant individuals?
- How did islamic religious beliefs influence developments in that area of knowledge? (Did they help or hinder?)
- Were ideas or progress in that area significantly different to those in other civilisations?
- What lasting contributions or developments were made in that area?
- Tip - find out what a polymath is

Sources to get you started.....

Sources that provide an overview or information for every topic.

Muslim Contributions to Science

Introduction to all topics

Museum of Science & Technology in Islam

Overview of Polymaths and all areas of knowledge

Philosophy

Britannica Muslim Philosophy

Routledge Encylopedia of Philosophy

Muslim Philosophy

Mathematics

Story of Mathematics

Britannica: Muslim contributions to Algebra

BBC Invention of Algebra

Astronomy

StarTeach Astronomy

Met Museum Medieval Astronomy

Islamic Astronomy for Kids

Geography

Article by the Geographic association

Muslim Times Article

Science & Technology

Overview from Saudi Aramco

Guardian Article on Scientific advances

Scientific Journal Article

Medicine

Scientific Journal Article

Medical News Article

National Museum of Medicine

Royal College of Physicians